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Football: Liverpool fluff big chance for league title

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

League leaders Liverpool let chance to win English Premier League slip

LONDON - Liverpool let their chances of winning the English Premier League slip when they drew with mid-table Crystal Palace on Monday, surrendering a three-goal lead in the latter stages of the game.

Liverpool still lead the league by a single point but that can be nullfied by Manchester City, who have played a game less. Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen scored the game's opening goal and they increased their lead in the second half with goals from English striker Daniel Sturridge and Uruguayan Luis Suarez.

Crystal Palace responded late on with defender Damien Delaney in the 79th minute and three minutes later the gap was narrowed to a single goal by 23-year-old English forward Dwight Gayle, who completed the unlikely comeback with another goal in the 88th minute.

After the critical match, Suarez broke into tears. Liverpool will play their last league match against Newcastle United at their home ground Anfield.

Runners-up Manchester City, who have two more league games to play, beat Everton away 3-2 with a goal from Argentine striker Sergio Aguero and two from Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko. Everton's goals were scored by 20-year-old English attacking midfielder Ross Barkley and Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku.

Manchester City will hope to take advantage of the opening to win the league in games against Aston Villa, on Wednesday, and West Ham on Sunday's closing day of the Premier League.

Third-placed Chelsea now only have an outside chace of winning the league after a goalless draw against Norwich City. Chelsea will play Cardiff City on Sunday but will need Liverpool and Manchester City to both lose, in order to win the league.

Arsenal, who are hoping to secure UEFA Champions League qualification, defeated West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at their home ground with a goal by French central forward Olivier Giroud's. The London team's German midfielder, of Turkish descent, Mesut Ozil played the whole game, after a period of injury.

Under the leadership of interim player-manager Ryan Giggs, after sacking of David Moyes, Manchester United, lost to Sunderland 1-0 at their home Old Trafford. It was the first time Manchester United lost seven home games since the 1973-74 season.

Cardiff City and Fulham were both relegated from the Premier League after losing their games against Newcastle United and Stoke City.